Clothesline cover



Sept. 17, 1946.. M. LITTLEJOHN CLOTHESLINE COVER Filed July 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l E WWW Attorneys Sept 17, 1946. L. M. LHTTLEJOHN GLOTHESLINE COVER Filed July 14', 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor [z'ZZz'a/Vaajz'f/Zajdzz WW w Patented Sept. 17, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I 'CLOTHESLINE COVER 7 Lillie Mae Littlejohn, North Birmingham, Ala. Application uly 14, 1945, Serial No. 605,080

4 Claims. (01. 211 119181 This invention relates .to a clothesline .cover and more particularly to such a cover adapted to be utilized in conjunction with clothes being dried on a clothesline.

A primary object of this invention is the provision of an improved clothesline cover adapted to protect clothes being dried from dirt, dust, soot, and the like during the drying process.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a cover constructed of waterproof material, so designed and arranged that in the event the clothes are hung outside, they maybe left during a rainstorm, a slight shower or the like, without the necessity of bringing them in, and without being further dampened by the rain.

A still further object of the invention is a provision of such a device provided with int'eriorly positioned clothes pins, to support the same abov the clothesline and out of contact with the clothes being dried thereon, which clothes pins simultaneously serve as supports for the clothes on the line.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of such a device which may be readily separated to permit clothes to be hungtherewithin, or to permit the same to be removed from the line as desired.

A further object is the provision of such a device adapted to be constructed of waterproof material, and having a plurality of ventilating apertures therein to permit the free circulation of air therethrough, but at the same time serving in a substantial measure to preclude the ingress of dust, soot and the like.

A further object of the invention is the provision of such a device, which, when not in use, may be readily folded into a relatively small and compact space.

Other objects reside in the provision of such a device which is sturdy and durable in construction, reliable and eificient in operation, and relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in part be pointed out as the description of the invention proceeds and shown in the accompanying drawings wherein there is disclosed a preferred embodiment of this inventive concept.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevational view disclosing one form of device embodying the instant invention.

Figur 2 is a top plan view of the device disclosed in Figure 1. I Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view of the device.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line i4 of Figure .2.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 of Figure 11 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along th line 6-6 of Figure 1 as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings;

plurality of transversely extending spaced slats- !4, made of fibreboard or the like, and preferably about 6" in length and spaced approximately a foot apart.

As best shown in Figure 4 each of the slats is provided with a clothes pin member 11-5, which may comprise a conventional clothes pin having the head thereof sawed off, and the securing means taking the form of a nail or tack Hi, the arrangement being such that the clothes pin l5 serves to support each slat, and its associated cover, to be more fully described hereinafter, a predetermined distance above the clothesline, and simultaneously may serve as a support for garments secured to the line.

Extending longitudinally along the top of the slats I4 is a cover member 11, to which the side portions iii of the cover are secured as by means of overlapped seams I9 and rows of stitching.

As best shown in Figure 6, end portions 20 are secured as by stitched seams 2| to the side portions 18. Each of the end portions 20 is split as at 22, and the sides of the split are adapted to be secured together by spaced ties 23 engaging in suitable apertures in the sides of the opposite halves of the end portions.

A bottom portion 25 is similarly provided, split as at 26, and secured asat 21 by overlapping seams to the side walls l8 and the end walls 20. Ties 28 serve to hold the split bottom portion in related assembly. 1

A plurality of rows of apertures 29 (see Figure 1) extend along the side portions l8, and the end portions 20.

Now from the foregoing the operation of the device should now be readily understandable. The cover member is first positioned on the line when it is desired to use the same, and the ties 23 and 28 loosened permit the device to be folded back for the insertion of clothes thereunder. Articles of clothing 3!] (see Figure 1) are then suitably suspended as by means of the clothes pin 15, supplemental clothes pins being utilized if necessary or desirable, the cover allowed to resume its normal position about the garments and the end walls and bottoms secured together by means of the ties 23 and 28. Thus it will be seen that air may circulate freely through the apertures 29 about the garments to dry the same, but the dust, soot, smoke and the like, are substantially precluded from contact with the clothes.

It will further be seen that the cover serves fully to protect the garments from rain or the like in the event of a sudden shower. I

Obviously, the cover may be made of any desired material, such as sheet rubber, Plioi'llm, cellophane, or any suitable material of analogous, water repellent, flexible material. Equally obviously, when not in use the transverse arrangement of the supporting slats permits the device to be folded into a relatively compact and small article.

From the foregoing it will now be seen that there is herein provided a device accomplishing all the objects of this invention, and others, including many advantages of great practical utility and commercial importance.

As many embodiments may be made of this inventive concept, and as many modifications may .be made in the embodiment hereinbefore shown and set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein to be interpreted merely as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

1. In a device of the character described ldapted for use with clotheslines, 'a covering in- 4 cluding a top, sides, ends and. a bottom, means secured to said top for supporting said covering from a clothesline, said means spacing the top above said line, and comprising clothes pins adapted to engage said line.

2. In a device of the character described adapted for use with clotheslines, a covering including a top, sides, ends and a bottom, means secured to said to-p'for supporting said covering from a clothesline, said means spacing the top above :said line, and comprising clothes pins adapted to engage said line, said bottom and ends being split, and means for securing said split portions together.

In a device of the character described adapted for use with clotheslines, a covering in cluding a top, sides, ends and a bottom, means secured to said top for supporting said covering from a clothesline, said means spacing the top above said line, and comprising clothes pins adapted to engage said line, said bottom and ends being split, means'for securing said split portions together, and means forming apertures said sides and ends to permit circulation of air within said covering.

4. In a device of the character described adapted for "use with clotheslines, a covering including a top, sides, ends and a bottom, mean secured to said top for supporting said covering from a clothesline, said means spacing the top above said line and comprising clothes pins adapted to engage said line, and spacingancl reinforcing slats transversely secured to said top, said clothes pins being secured to the underside of. said slats.

' LlLLlIE LI'I'ILEJOHN. 

